Hey Lane!!!

[Lane]

Hey guys.. and gals!!

I figured after calls from , the Padre and John wondering why I've abandoned my family, I'd better check in. Seems like when life gets a bit rocky, I tend to pull in, rather than reaching out for help.

I was originally scheduled for surgery on 1/28, but due to new insurance that started at the first of the year, I had to find a new surgeon and hospital in order to not be stuck with $85K in medical bills. Now, we are set, and going under the knife next Wednesday (2/22). The new doctor is more conservative and only going to fuse the joint at L5-S1 (I'm good with that - the original plan was to fuse all three joints from L3-S1.)

In the mean time, I'm trying to get things tidied up with my day job so that I can focus on a quick recovery. It'll be good to get over - I'm pretty much in pain 24/7 down both legs. Can't sit, stand or sleep. Other than that I'm good. The disk has almost completely failed resulting in bone on bone irritation. Sucks getting old. Ask .

Any way - thanks for all the kind thoughts and calls. I need to remember that COTEP is a close knit group of friends who support each other through good times and bad. And I need to remember that many here deal with much worse health problems than this.

Lane